ENROLLED
ACT No. 59
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 842
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCMAHEN
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 9:2800.28, relative to liability; to provide relative to veterinary professionals;
3 to provide relative to animal abuse and reporting; to provide for immunity from civil
4 liability or criminal prosecution; to provide relative to the release of confidential
5 information; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 9:2800.28 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง2800.28. Limitation of liability for veterinary professionals who report animal
9 cruelty
10 A. Any veterinarian licensed by the state or veterinary technician licensed
11 by the state who reports in good faith and has reasonable belief that an animal has
12 been the subject of a violation of R.S. 14:102.1, 102.5, 102.8, 102.19, 102.20,
13 102.23, or 102.26 shall be immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution if he
14 reports such violation to the commissioner or designee of the Department of
15 Agriculture and Forestry, a P.O.S.T. certified animal control officer, a law
16 enforcement agency, or a prosecuting attorney or if he participates in any
17 investigation or proceeding for acts prohibited by law.
18 B. Additionally, any veterinarian licensed by the state or veterinary
19 technician licensed by the state shall be immune from civil liability or criminal
20 prosecution for the release of confidential information pursuant to a subpoena or
21 court-ordered disclosure, or upon written consent from the animal's owner or the
22 animal owner's legal representative.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 842 ENROLLED
1 C. This Section shall not apply if the veterinarian or veterinary technician
2 acts with gross negligence, willful misconduct, or in bad faith.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.